ISLAMABAD: The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday lashed out at the Punjab government over its 2026-27 budget, alleging that it sidelines the agriculture sector and reflects what it termed a shift from serious economic planning to political theatre.
In a statement, PTI spokesman Sheikh Waqas Akram said the budget reflects a “deep indifference” to agriculture, despite its central role in the country’s economy, alleging that farmers have been left to grapple with rising costs, heatwaves and failing irrigation systems while the government focuses on publicity and optics.
With heavy sarcasm, he said the authorities appeared more interested in “self-congratulatory messaging” than addressing structural problems in the sector.
“While farmers battle soaring input costs and water shortages, this regime seems busy distributing slogans instead of solutions,” he remarked.
He also cited what he claimed were deteriorating external trade indicators, saying food imports had risen by around 15% to more than USD7 billion, while exports had fallen by 34% to roughly USD3.8 billion, leaving what he
called a widening hole in foreign exchange earnings.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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